Banket fun-run surpasses target

Conrad Mupesa in Banket
Banket’s inaugural 2km and 10km fun-run races that were held last week proved to be a success as the two events were oversubscribed.

Participants braved the light rains that threatened to spoil the event.

The fun-run, which was bankrolled by Mutual Finance, was also being used as a fundraiser for the establishment of a state-of-the-art artificial hockey turf being spearheaded by a local hockey developmental team, Roots Hockey Club.

The club was formed by former National Hockey Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Humphrey Chigwedere.

At least 94 professional and amateur athletes drawn from Harare, Chinhoyi, Banket and surrounding areas participated at the event.

The event, which brought the rather sleepy mining town of Banket to life, saw Kebile Dori winning the 5km junior category, while Tatenda Chagwarira was the first one home in the senior category.

Philip Nyikadzino was the winner in the senior men’s 10km race, while Milcah Munenga triumphed in the women’s category.

Mr Chigwedere said he intends to make the race an annual event.

“In our quest to develop grassroots sport development, we are going to make the event an annual event and we hope to increase participants next year and make it bigger, and we will introduce a 21km run competition next year as we were impressed by the turn out,” he said.